The Ministerial Council for Vocational and Technical Education (MCVTE) is the key decision-making body, and has overall responsibility for the national training system, including strategic policy, priority setting, planning and performance. The Council is chaired by the Australian Government Minister for Vocational and Further Education and consists of state and territory government ministers responsible for training. The Council is supported by various advisory bodies, which are outlined below.
Find out more about the Ministerial Council (this links to DEST page)
Find out more about the roles and responsibilities of parties to the Commonwealth-State Agreement for Skilling Australia’s Workforce.
Industry participates in the national training system through it’s involvement on a range of advisory bodies including the National Industry Skills Committee and the National Quality Council. Through Industry Skills Councils, employers are able to identify the competencies that they need and contribute to training packages, which ensures that the qualifications that students receive include the skills that employers require. Locally industry and employers also work in partnership with registered training organisations, including Australian Technical Colleges, to ensure that providers understand their specific skill needs.
The diagram below outlines how industry interacts with the national training system.
National Industry Skills Committee
To enhance the industry-led focus of the vocational and technical education system, a National Industry Skills Committee (NISC) provides the Ministerial Council with high-level advice on workforce planning, future training priorities and other critical issues facing the training sector. It has a cross-section of employers from a range of industries, including: emerging industries; small, medium and large enterprises; and businesses from a diverse geography.
The National Industry Skills Committee meets with the Ministerial Council ahead of council meetings, and holds two of its meetings as joint meetings with the National Senior Officials Committee during each year. It has the opportunity to comment on any papers presented to the Ministerial Council, and has the capacity to present its own papers directly to the Ministerial Council.
The National Industry Skills Committee provides broad-based advice to the Ministerial Council, and this may include advice on:
The Committee also plays a key role with the National Senior Officials Committee in advising the Ministerial Council on national research priorities to ensure that the system is well positioned to respond to emerging challenges.
Find out more information about the National Industry Skills Committee. (link to NISC website)
National Quality Council
The National Quality Council (NQC) reports to the Ministerial Council for Vocational and Technical Education, and oversees quality assurance and ensures national consistency in the application of the Australian Quality Training Framework standards for the audit and registration of training providers. It has specific decision-making powers in relation to the endorsement of training packages and other aspects of the quality assurance under the National Skills Framework.
The National Quality Council has a key role in bringing together the major players in the vocational and technical education sector - industry, unions, governments, equity groups and practitioners - to oversee and support the current and future quality of vocational and technical education across Australia. It is also critical to ensuring the successful operation of the National Skills Framework – the system’s requirements for quality and national consistency in terms of qualifications and the delivery of training.
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National Senior Officials Committee
A National Senior Officials Committee (NSOC) has been established and is responsible for supporting the Ministerial Council for Vocational and Technical Education, implementing its decisions, driving national collaboration on training matters and monitoring the effectiveness of the national training system.
The National Senior Officials Committee consists of the chief executive officers of the Australian and state government departments responsible for training. The Committee is chaired by the Secretary of the Australian Government Department of Education, Science and Training.
The National Training Statistics Committee provides advice to the National Senior Officials Committee on the collection and reporting of vocational education and training statistics.
Find out more information about the National Senior Officials Committee. (link to DEST pages)
Client Advisory Alliance
In November 2006, the Ministerial Council for Vocational and Technical Education endorsed the establishment of new client advisory arrangements for the National Training System. This includes an Equity Advisory Taskforce, an Indigenous Advisory Taskforce and a Disability Advisory Taskforce which report to a Client Advisory Alliance. The Alliance draws its membership from the chairs of the Taskforces and an industry representative, and reports to the National Senior Officials Committee on strategic issues, priorities and strategies for all clients in the National Training System, particularly disadvantaged clients.
Action Groups and Taskforces
National action groups and taskforces are established on a needs basis, for a fixed time period, with the aim of providing targeted, specialist advice requested by the Ministerial Council or the National Senior Officials Committee. Responsibility for managing and coordinating the work of a group rests with a state, territory or Australian Government training department. This provides an opportunity for a jurisdiction to address an issue which has particular relevance to it on behalf of the national system. The work of national action groups complements the high level advice of business and industry to the Ministerial Council.
Currently, the following action groups and taskforces are in operation;
- Review of Resourcing VET Action Group;
- Equity Advisory Taskforce;
- Indigenous Advisory Taskforce;
- Disability Advisory Taskforce.
National Centre for Vocational Education and Research
The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) is a not-for-profit company owned by the federal, state and territory ministers responsible for training. It is unique in Australia's education system. It is responsible for collecting, managing, analysing, evaluating and communicating research and statistics about vocational education and training.
NCVER's vision is for policy and practice in vocational education and training to be based on sound evidence. Its mission is to be Australia's leading provider of quality, independent information relating to vocational education and training to governments, the sector, industry, and the community.
A board of eight directors, who represent state, territory, and federal governments, industry, unions, and training authorities, manage NCVER.
Find out more on the NCVER website.
Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Australia
Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Australia Limited is a ministerial company owned by the federal, state and territory ministers responsible for training.
TVET Australia was established by the Ministerial Council for Vocational and Technical Education (MCVTE) on 18 November 2005 to provide responsive and high quality services to support the national training system. These services include:
- secretariat and support services to the National Industry Skills Committee (NISC);
- secretariat and support service to the National Quality Council (NQC);
- an integrated service to enable users of the national training system to identify and acquire training materials, identify copyright requirements and enter licenses for use of that material consistent with the scope and direction of the NQC; and
- national registration and audit services.
Find out more on the TVET Australia website.
The national training system encompasses a diverse range of registered training organisations (RTOs). These organisations present training and award nationally recognised qualifications through the national training system. Training organisations range from publicly owned, such as colleges of technical and further education (TAFE), to community based organisations, for profit organisations, and enterprises, and can be large or small. While RTOs provide training within nationally recognised training packages, many also provide training to meet the needs of the local community and industry that is not accredited under the national training system. They must be registered in their state or territory or nationally with the relevant authority to be able to provide nationally recognised qualifications through the national training system.
Registering bodies assure the quality of training by confirming that all registered training organisations meet and adhere to the guidelines established under the Australian Quality Training Framework through a registration and audit process. To complement the state-based system the National Audit and Registration Agency has been established in TVET Australia. This will offer national RTOs who operate in more than one state or territory the opportunity to have their registration and audit arrangements managed by a single agency.
The Institute for Trades Skills Excellence is an industry led, Australian Government funded body that promotes and advances learning, teaching and training in Australian trades education, and elevates the status of traditional trades and trades education as a career choice. The Institute will achieve its vision and purpose through:
- Developing strategies to improve the profile and status of trades and encourage the recognition of the importance of trades in the general community;
- Recognising high performing registered training organisations with preferred provider status; and
- Fostering and recognising excellent standards and teaching in trades education and training, in areas of skills shortage represented by the Institute’s Industry Reference Groups.
Students
Students of the national training system are studying for a nationally recognised vocational qualification with a registered training organisation. Students in the national training system include apprentices, people studying to improve their skills for current jobs, or to gain skills for a new job. They are all ages, come from a variety of backgrounds and life experiences, study full or part time, and many undertake their vocational study while continuing to work.